Trial Of Strength (Book 13)

"SERENITY, SAVAGE SEX, SHOWING OFF

While hunky Doc Steve works to heal injured Uncle Mike, boss Randy feels powerless to help. He reasserts his macho potency in pounding sex with his lover Bob. Jason and his boy Ben help out by working at Mike’s leather bar – Jason as a shirtless muscle-jock bartender, Ben as a sexy young bar-back. After work Jason flaunts his perfect body with Ben in a homoerotic backroom floorshow.

In the previous chapter

Grim news shocked the tribe. The much-loved older man they all knew as Uncle Mike had been involved in a car-wreck near his Palm Springs home.  In a burst-tire solo spinout, the car had crashed into a light-pole and Mike had been hospitalized with a serious injury.

The news galvanized the men and boys of the tribe, lead by the big boss Randy, who leapt into his truck and sped off to Palm Springs to give support and comfort to Mike’s shaken boy Larry sitting alone in the hospital waiting room, staring blankly into space.  He jumped up, fell into Randy’s arms and sobbed.  “I can’t lose him, sir.  He’s my whole life ... my lover, my partner, my dad, my best friend all in one.  I can’t think of a life without him.”

“Hey, hey, you won’t have to kiddo, I’m sure of that.   We’ve gotta be strong for him, Larry. Mike would want that.”

When the doctor came in his verdict was mixed.  “The good news is there’s no organ damage ... his upper body is more or less intact.  His legs are a different matter.  When a car goes out of control the driver’s instinct is to press hard on the brake pedal.  So when Mike’s car hit the light pole his leg was locked rigid on the brake and absorbed the full impact of the crash. 

“His right leg has sustained serious injuries – multiple fractures in the foot, ankle and lower leg.  When he recovers from the shock and regains his strength he’s going to need complex orthopedic surgery if we’re to save the leg.”

Larry flinched and the doc added, “I have to tell you, there’s a chance he might lose it. I can’t tell you the odds, though – that’ll be up to the surgeon.  Mike will have to be transferred to a skilled surgeon specializing in injuries from vehicle crashes like this, or sports and workplace injuries. 

“It’ll be a day or two before he can travel, after we’ve made sure he’s recovered from the shock and has no other complications.  He needs to get into surgery as soon as possible, so I’ll give you a list of experts in the field.  It might be even better to use one in Los Angeles”

Randy said, “Thanks for all your help, doc, but I don’t need a list. I know just the guy, the best there is.”  He was referring to the tribe’s Doctor Chad, the head of surgery at a hospital, a leader in the treatment of traffic, sports and job injuries.  Mike was tough, and well enough the next day to travel to L.A. with Larry, in Randy’s spacious truck. 

Meanwhile, Randy’s lover Bob, the tribe’s other co-founder, had rallied the tribe at home and had already made arrangements for when Mike got out of hospital.  He told Randy by phone, “Stairs are out of the question so Mark wants Larry and Mike to stay with them in their ground-floor apartment. He has two nice spare rooms, and Jamie will be right there for his pal Larry.  

“Felipe lives there too, and I have released him from kitchen duties and assigned him to take care of them all, cooking and everything.  He’s eager to help, so Mike will be in good hands.”

When they arrived at Chad’s hospital he came out to meet them, looking sexy as ever in the dark blue V-neck shirt of his scrubs.  A nurse accompanied him with a wheelchair and Randy lifted him out of the truck and into the wheelchair. Larry bent down and kissed him.  “Bye, sir, see you soon.  Then it’ll my turn to take care of you.  I love you, sir.””

Randy squeezed Mike’s shoulder.  “Hang in there, you old rogue.  You’ll be out in no time.”

After the nurse wheeled him away, Chad said, “Randy, Larry, it’ll be quite a while before I have any news.  A full assessment takes time – tests, MRIs, the whole ballgame.  But I’ll call you before he goes into surgery.”

Randy’s eyes became moist.  “Chad, please ...”

“I know, Randy, he’s a special guy.  You know I’ll pull out all the stops on this one to save the leg.  Now I gotta go care for my patient, while you, Larry, let Jamie take care of you.  Randy, I know you’ve been through the wringer in the last couple of days, taking charge the way you do, with everything on those broad shoulders.   Now I want you to go and let Bob take care of you.”

When Larry and Randy got back to the compound, a small group was waiting for them. Randy said, “OK, guys, so far so good.  Mike stood the journey well and he’s now getting the best care possible from Doc Chad. It’ll be a while before Chad has any news, but we’ll keep y’all posted.”

Jamie ran up and embraced Larry.  “Hey, dude, you’re in good hands too.  You’ll be staying with us, and Felipe is waiting to feed us.”  He put his arm round Larry’s shoulder and led him away.

Bob smiled at Randy.  “Come on, big guy.  Home.” 

Upstairs in their house Randy gazed into Bob’s soft brown eyes, and all the tension and adrenaline that had sustained him all this time now drained away.  He was with the man he loved, and at last he could give way to the raw, ragged feelings he had been holding in check.  His lower lip quivered, his body shook ... and he fell sobbing into Bob’s arms.

Bob held him tight for a long time until the wracking sobs eased and his body stopped heaving.  Bob kissed his wet cheeks and said gently, “OK, Randy, I’m taking you to bed.”

=========    Book 13: Chapter 7   =========

<><>    Randy Proves His Manhood    <><>  

Randy was still distraught when they went into the bedroom and stood facing each other. “I should be with Mike, dude.  I should a’ stayed with him at the hospital.  You remember that time when those goons ran your motorcycle off the road and you ended up in a coma?  I stayed with you then, day and night.  I watched over you, refused to budge.”

“I remember, Randy.  I was in a deep coma and they thought I wouldn’t pull through.  You put your hand under the sheets, grabbed my cock and stroked it until at last it got hard and my eyes flickered open. The nursing staff thought it was a miracle, but it was just a gypsy jack-off.”

Randy smiled weakly. “But we didn’t tell them that – not exactly standard medical procedure.”

“But here’s the difference, Randy.  With me, the docs had done all they could.  But Mike is not in a coma and he’s getting constant round-the-clock care.  He’s probably spending most of the time asleep. 

“So, Randy, there’s nothing else you can do for now.  Buddy, you have been magnificent – speeding straight out to the desert to comfort Mike and take care of his boy Larry, then driving him back here to Chad’s hospital. Now you’ve got to let go, let Chad and his staff do their thing.”

“Yeah,” Randy frowned.  “Chad said he would pull out all the stops.”

“Of course he will, Randy.  He knows how precious Mike is to all of us, he’ll do everything he can to save the leg.  You’ve got to leave it in his hands.”

“But I gotta do something, dude.  I can’t just lay back sobbing and do nothing.  Usually I solve problems by slugging a few guys, problem solved.  But now I feel powerless, impotent.”

Bob smiled.  “Buddy, no one would never ever use the words ‘Randy’ and ‘impotent’ in the same sentence.  Everyone knows you are a man of action – physical action.  But now you’ve gotta let me take care of you. Right now, as we speak, Jamie is caring for Larry, and it’s my job to take care of you.  And I know that in your book, ‘taking care’ of someone means fucking them.”

“Hmm,” Randy grunted.  “That what you want ... to fuck me?”

Bob sighed.  “Randy, you can be so dense.  No, I don’t mean that.  You just got through saying you can’t just lay back sobbing and do nothing.  You need action.   Look, when you’ve had a tough day at the construction sight and been challenged by one of the crew, you come roaring home, tense and angry, needing to prove your manhood.  What’s the first thing you do?”

“Fuck your ass, stud.”

“Ah, the light dawns.  So how is this any different?  Prove you’re not impotent.  Let me lie back and do the sobbing while you pound my ass.”

Randy frowned, “Ah, I dunno, man.  With all this going on I prob’ly couldn’t even get it up.”

“Oh no?” Bob said.  “He walked over to the bed and while Randy watched, Bob unbuttoned his shirt, pulled it open and shrugged it off.  He kicked off his loafers, dropped his slacks and shorts and stood butt naked, staring at Randy.  

Randy grabbed the bulge in his jeans and growled, “Fuck you, man.”

He approached Bob, ran his hands over his bare, sculpted chest, then shoved him and sent him sprawling on his back on the bed. He ripped his jeans open and pulled out his iron-hard cock.  “Fuck you, man,” he said again, as he ripped off his shirt and jeans and fell naked on top of his superman lover.

He kissed Bob ferociously, then pulled back and said, “Don’t you ever fucking leave me, dude.  How would I ever get through shit like this without you?”

“Shut up and fuck, Randy,”

“Damn, you really want it, don’t you?  OK, you got it, man.”

Randy raised one of Bob’s legs high and gazed down at the ass he always looked on as his property.  He leaned his shoulder against the raised leg, spat on his cock and used his free hand to guide it to the prized hole.  Bob saw that slightly manic glint in his blue eyes and braced himself for the onslaught. 

Randy drove his thick shaft into Bob’s ass, making him gasp and his handsome face thrash with the pain/pleasure no one could give him like the wild gypsy. Pushing his leg back farther, Randy splayed his free hand on Bob’s chest and pressed it hard, pinning his whole body to the bed.

The fuck was predictably fierce.  Testosterone once again raced through Randy’s muscled body, but not, as with Mike, from fear-driven willpower, but this time with love and raw lust for the man he idolized.  The absurd notion of impotence vanished as he laid claim to Bob’s ass and whole body.  “Forget that crying jag back there, dude, this is the real me ... scared of nothing and nobody.   If I can own a man like you I can own the world.”

As the piston drove into his ass Bob reached up and pressed his hand against Randy’s chest in a nominal, and futile, attempt to restrain him.  There was no way to restrain the macho gypsy in this mood, as many men had found to their cost.  And Bob didn’t want to.  He knew that even a token attempt to fight back only increased his lover’s ferocity – his potency.

Randy’s deep growl was as savage as his pounding cock.  “I fucking love you, man.  Damn, your ass feels good.  You’re so fucking beautiful, pounding your ass gives me more power than pounding a guy with my fists.”

As always Randy’s way of making love to him pushed Bob to the limits of his endurance and ecstasy.  He dug his fingers into his solid pecs, thrilled by the mere sight of the rugged gypsy – the brawny body, veins bulging in the rippling muscles, stubbled jaw clenched, shaggy black hair flying, steel-blue eyes glinting in the dark chiseled face. 

Randy took his hand off Bob’s chest and curled it round his throat, not hard enough to scare him, but enough to prove his total mastery of the man.  Bob was at his mercy, but in that savage face he saw love in the blue eyes, and willingly embraced it.  Eventually the fuck intensified to the point where even Bob was reaching his limit, on the edge of orgasm.

Randy could read his lover like a book ... and the fuck slowed.  Randy let Bob’s legs fall, but Bob kept them pulled back, still offering his sore ass to his lover.  Randy leaned forward between the legs, pinned his wrists to the bed and gazed down at him, their faces inches apart. 

“Man, with you I can do anything ... you give me the strength to face the whole fucking world.  I love you, man, I worship you.  You want me to prove myself to you?  How many other men can make you bust your load like this?” 

The hypnotic blue eyes pierced his and they both knew that Bob was totally in the gypsy’s power.  The ferocity was gone, replaced by a tenderness that overwhelmed Bob more than a pounding fuck.  Randy’s cock moved slowly in and out of his ass, probing deeper and deeper until it paused.  Randy smiled a gleaming smile and pushed the head of his cock over the inner sphincter, coming to rest in the fiery inner depths.

Bob totally surrendered. “Oh fuck ... I love you Randy ... aaagh ...”  As he felt Randy’s cock bulge and erupt deep inside him, Bob’s body shuddered and he pumped semen over his heaving chest in an explosive hands-free orgasm.

After their panting subsided Randy smiled, “Not bad for a teary-eyed impotent man, eh?”  He pulled out slowly and rolled over on his side gazing down at his exhausted lover.  “Er, that sobbing thing earlier, dude – you won’t mention it to the guys, will you?”

“Of course not, Randy.  Though if I did it would increase their love and respect for you.  But I suppose we can’t let them know that you’re a mere mortal, rather than the reigning King of the Gypsies as they all see you.  At rough times like this they look up to you as their leader, and they know you can always rise to the occasion ... like just now,” Bob grinned.  “Impotence?  What a load of rubbish.  You don’t know the meaning of the word.”

<><>    Bob & Randy Do The Rounds    <><>

One thing that made these two men such a great match was that the balance of power kept changing - first one was dominant, then the other.  Randy was unquestioningly dominant in bed, as he had just proved, and also as the commanding boss of the construction site.

But now, as they stirred in the afterglow of great sex, Bob took over the dominant role.  “OK, Randy, so you’ve again proved your manhood.  That sobbing earlier was just the big guy letting go of the tension you had been holding in check ... something you can display only to me.  Your power to lead is stronger than ever, and you have to direct it at the men who most need your help – starting with young Larry.

“In fact, that applies to the whole tribe.  They’ve been knocked sideways by Mike’s accident, and up to now they have been inspired by your leadership, the way you sprang into action and took care of Mike.  So now they’ll still be looking to you for the endurance to get through the next few days until we know the verdict from Chad.”

“OK, buddy, I get it.  But you’re not taking credit for your role in all this.  Your quiet efficiency has kept things going here, kept the ship afloat.  Face it, man, they need us both, we’re a team.”

“Right, so first we pay a visit to the guys on the ground floor.”

They got dressed – both in jeans, Bob in his usual white V-neck T-shirt, Randy in a formfitting gray buttoned T-shirt that clung to his muscled physique.   As they walked through the garden they noticed an unusually heavy silence hanging over the place, instead of the usual laughter coming from the various buildings.

Not sure what they would find in Mark’s and Jamie’s apartment, they knocked on the door. It was opened by young Felipe, looking efficient in the dark green apron he always wore in the main kitchen as assistant chef.  “Come in, sirs,” he smiled, “they’ll be pleased to see you.  You’re just what they need.”  They went in and paused in the hallway to talk to Felipe.”

“How they doing, kiddo?” Randy asked.

“Things are rather tense, sir, but Jamie is being a big help to Larry, even made love to him.”

“And are you able to take care of them all, Felipe?  I’m sorry to have pulled you off your normal kitchen duties like this.”

“I don’t mind at all, sir.  I’m glad I can help in a situation like this.  As for taking care of them, don’t forget that in Honduras I worked as chef and houseboy for an English family – three kids and all – so I’ve had plenty of practice.”

“And how is Larry bearing up?” Randy asked

“Like you say, sir, bearing up, but you can tell he’s depressed.  My concern was that he said he has no appetite, but I told him he has to keep his strength up.  I cooked my specialty, baleadas, you know how great they smell, and that did the trick. Larry had two helpings.  The twins called to ask if I needed anything and they’ll be bringing over a few items this kitchen doesn’t have.”

Randy smiled, wrapped his hand round the back of Felipe’s head, bent down and kissed him long and hard on the lips.  “You’re a great kid, Felipe.  When all this is over I’ll find some way to thank you.”

Felipe smiled.  “You’ve made me feel better already, sir.” ... plus given him a roaring hardon though he left that unsaid.  Randy knew, anyway – he took that for granted whenever he kissed a boy.

Felipe went back to the apartment’s kitchen and the men found Mark, Jamie and Larry sitting in the living room, nibbling on snacks Felipe had brought them.  They brightened as soon as Bob and Randy came in and joined them.  Bob chatted with the boys while Randy sat with Mark drinking beer.

“Randy,” Mark grinned, “I gotta hand it to you, big guy, the way you rushed out to the desert the minute you heard the news.  Larry was all alone and wouldn’t have got through it without you.  And I hear that your kid brother Ben is running Larry’s bike workshop and Jason’s helping out in Mike’s bar.  Damn, I can see him now behind the bar, stripped to the waist, flaunting that spectacular body of his.  Not a limp dick in the place, I bet.  So how are you holding up buddy?”

“Ah, you know me, officer,” Randy grinned, “pretty much indestructible.  Though when Bob got me home I did lose it, blubbed like a baby ... until Bob took his clothes off.  I took one look at the man lying there naked and I fucked his ass good.  That restored my faith in myself.”

“I should a’ been there,” Mark chuckled.  “Next time, eh?”

Randy and Bob eventually left, and split up.  Randy went to the construction site to check things out with Zack, and Bob visited Brandon and his guys in the office.  As he expected, Brandon was keeping everything running as smoothly as ever, keeping his guys focused on work, rather than events over which they had no control.

His last stop was the kitchen where the chefs – his twins Kyle and Kevin, and the redhead Will – were working hard on dinner.  “Actually, sir,” Kyle said, “Will was about to run these supplies of food and utensils over to Felipe.”

“Let me do that,” Bob said. “I can be your delivery boy, you have your work cut out here without Felipe.  He picked up the two bags they had packed and smiled, “Keep up the good work, guys.”

After he left, Will’s freckled face broke into a playful grin.  “Bob’s in a good mood.”

“Yeah,” Kevin chuckled.  “Amazing what a good old Randy fuck will do to a guy.” 

<><>    Doc Chad Phones Home    <><>

At dinner that evening they all tried to keep cheerful, but tension was building as they had still not heard from Doc Chad since Mike arrived at the hospital.  It wasn’t until they were well into the main course that Larry’s phone rang and their hearts leapt. 

“It’s Mike,” Larry said.  “Hello, sir.  “We’re all here eating dinner so I’ll put the phone on speaker and turn the volume up.”

“Hey guys,” Mike said, sounding groggily cheerful. “I’m doped up as usual, about to drop off, but I had to check in with you all first.  First of all, I love you Larry, and all you guys.”

“We love you too, Uncle Mike,” they shouted raggedly.” 

“OK, there’s not that much I can tell you, but the doc’s gonna speak to you soon.  Since I got here I’ve been shunted around like a freight train – X-ray, MRI, blood tests, pee in a cup, all that good stuff.  Seems that all my innards are working fine and Chad cleared me for surgery tomorrow. So it looks like I won’t be calling you again until they bring me round tomorrow after the op.  Guys, my only request is that you take good care of my boy – he’s real precious to me.”

“He’ll be treated like a prince, Mike,” Randy shouted, “and you can take that from the King of the Gypsies.”  There was laughter all round, then Larry took the phone off speaker and spent the next minute talking softly with Mike.  When the call ended his eyes brimmed with tears and Jamie and Mark on either side of him put their arms round him and kissed him.

Less than five minutes later Larry’s phone rang again and Larry said, “Hello doc.  I’m at dinner with all the guys so I’ll put you on speaker so they can all hear.”

“Hi, guys,” came Cad’s cheerful voice. “OK, here’s the scoop.  As Mike told you, we went through the usual pre-op battery of tests and all his vitals are fine.  So I’ve arranged for surgery early tomorrow morning.  As I’ve said before, he has compound fractures, so it’s likely to be a long operation. 

“I won’t be coming to dinner with you all.  I don’t drink the night before surgery, and I need an early night, so I’ll be going straight home to Adam and Nate.  I won’t be calling you again until surgery is over and I can assess the early signs.

“But I’ll leave you with this.  There are two things in our favor.  The man is as strong as an ox, and he has a fighting spirit.  He’s very confident and says he won’t let Larry down.  Any questions?”

There was silence round the table and Bob said, “I think you’ve said it all, Chad.  All our thoughts are with you and Mike.  We look forward to seeing you both soon.  Larry sends his love, as does everyone here.”  There was another ragged chorus of, “Thank you, Chad, we love you,” and the call ended.

<><>    Waiting For The Verdict    <><>

That night couples and families were more than usually loving, burying their anxieties in making love.  In the ground-floor apartment Jamie naturally curled up with Larry and they spent a restless night in each other’s arms.

Left alone with Felipe, Mark said, “Hey kiddo, you wanna bunk in with me?  I think we can both use the company and I sure would like to make love to you.  But only if you want to.”

“Sir, I was hoping you would say that.  Like everyone else I’ve been feeling nervous, and it reminds me of the constant anxiety I lived with before I managed to escape and come here.  I need to feel safe, sir.”

Mark grinned.  “Well, sleeping in the arms of a cop should do it, even if the cop is naked.”

“Especially if the cop’s naked, sir.”

And so Felipe took his clothes off and piled into Mark’s bed.  Mark had been feeling as powerless as Randy and Bob, so he welcomed the chance to protect and soothe the good-looking young Latino.  As he lay beside the boy, propped on one elbow, he stroked his dark velvet-smooth skin, then bent forward and kissed his full lips.  “So damn sexy, kiddo.  What would you like me to do for you?”

“Fuck me, sir?”

“Good, just what I wanted to hear.” 

So that’s what the cop did, tenderly and, at least for tonight, replaced his fears with love and affection.  And after that they too slept, with Felipe wrapped in the strong arms of the law.

However well or fitfully everyone slept, they stayed in bed late next day as it was a Saturday.  No one wanted to sit around in a cloud of anxiety, knowing that it would be hours before they heard anything from the hospital.  Larry told Jamie he kept wondering what was happening – whether Mike was being prepped or already in surgery.  Jamie put a stop to his racing imagination by making love to him again.

But eventually most of them reluctantly got out of bed and wandered out to the Saturday buffet brunch already set up on the lawn by the chefs, Kevin, Kyle and Will. They were pulling out all the stops as they knew that their job was a crucial one, to keep the men and boys of the tribe well fed to sustain them through what was obviously going to be another tense day. 

As the group gathered round the outdoor tables there was a collective effort to keep the spirits up, especially for Larry who was clearly under a lot of pressure. They all stayed together throughout the morning, with the chefs constantly replenishing the food, coffee and drinks.

They knew that Mike’s surgery was scheduled to begin early in the morning, and by eleven o’clock Larry could no longer stand the suspense.  The group fell silent as he called the hospital at the number Chad have given him.

He identified himself to the receptionist who said, “Ah yes, Larry, the doctor told me you might call.  Hold on for a moment wile I check with operating room.”  There was what seemed like an interminable wait, with Larry imagining all kinds of reasons for the delay.  Finally she came back on the line. 

“Larry?  I checked with the OR charge nurse who said the surgery is still going on.  Apparently it’s a longer procedure than doctor expected, they anticipate about five hours in all.  She said that as soon as doctor gets out of surgery he will call you.”

“Thank you ma’am,” Larry said. “Do you have any details of the surgery, like if ... like anything?”

He stopped himself from asking if they were able to save the leg, but the receptionist guessed that’s what he meant.  “I’m afraid the nurse did not give me any details.  They don’t like to comment on a procedure that’s still ongoing.  Sorry I can’t be more helpful but hang in there and I’ll have doctor call you as soon as he comes out.”

They had all been listening on speaker and when the call ended, Eddie was the first to speak.  “Dude that’s good news.  Stands to reason Doc Chad is doing his thing, rather than ...”

He trailed off but they could all have completed the sentence ... ‘rather than just cut the leg off’.  Randy went to sit next to Larry and put his arms round him.  “OK, dude, here’s the plan.  As soon as Mike wakes up from the anesthetic and the doc gives us the OK, we’ll go see him.”

“You’ll drive me there, sir?”

“Of course I will.  I want yours to be the first smiling face Mike sees when he opens his eyes.”

Conversation was muted as the twins poured more coffee, and about an hour later Larry’s phone rang.  They all held their breath as Larry put the phone on speaker and cleared his throat. “Er ... hello, doc, this is Larry and all the guys are here listening.”

“Good, I’m glad they’re all with you.  Hi, guys ... OK, I know you don’t want me to soft-peddle anything so here goes.”  That sounded ominous and Larry grabbed Jamie’s wrist.  But Chad’s next words made them all exhale.  “The surgery was much longer than I expected – but it went well.  And to answer your next question, yes, Larry, Mike still has his leg.”

Chad interrupted the cheers with a note of caution.  “But we still have a long way to go as we’ll monitor him closely for any signs of infection.  The surgery included a couple of small bone-grafts, and I inserted a titanium rod in the fibula.  The ankle is always the most complicated and that’ll take the longest to heal.”

“So where do we go from here, doc?” Randy asked.

“Hi, Randy. So the patient is in the recovery room and should come out of the anesthetic shortly. His vital signs are strong, but he’ll still be groggy, a bit of a brain fog, as I’ll put him on strong pain meds.   Right now I’d say I’m guardedly optimistic.

“I’m sure you want to know when you can visit and I’m also sure the first thing he’ll ask about is you, Larry.  So as soon as I feel he’s strong enough I’ll have a nurse call you.  It’ll have to be a short visit, but I think that seeing your face, Larry, will do him more good than all my surgery and medication.  Now I have to go see Mike and run some post-op tests.”

Larry’s relief was overwhelming. “Sir, I can’t thank you enough ... you don’t know how much I ...”

“You don’t need to thank me, Larry, I was just doing my job.  Though I have to say, this was not just another patient.  This man is special, so it was a labor of love.”

Larry started to sob with relief and Randy took the phone from him.  “Chad, you have the eternal thanks of the whole tribe.  And when the old timer wakes up, you tell him that if he don’t get well pronto for Larry, he’ll have me to answer to and that won’t be pretty.  He’ll know what I mean.”

“I believe I know what you mean too, Randy.  I’ve been on the receiving end.”

<><>    Mike Floats On A Cloud    <><>

After the call ended there was an air of celebration in the group, tempered with cautious optimism.  Chad’s lover Adam, and their boy Nate, were swept up in the general gratitude for Doc Chad. 

As promised, Chad’s nurse called and said the doc had cleared Mike for a quick visit.  So when Mike started coming round, the first voice he heard was a nurse calling his name.  And when his eyes flickered open the first face he saw was Larry’s.  “Hey, kiddo,” he murmured groggily.  “Is it over?  Do I still have my leg?”

“Yes you do, sir, and it looks like you’re gonna keep it.”

“That you there too, Randy?”

“Larger than life, you old faker – pretending to be sick all this time just to get sympathy.”

Mike chuckled weakly and coughed.  “Er, Larry.  How’s things back home, the business and all?   You should call out there and ...”

“It’s all just fine, sir.  Jason and Ben are taking care of everything.  How are you feeling?”

“Like I’m floating on a cloud, kiddo.  I recommend this anesthetic stuff, a real trip, feeling no pain.  Makes me tired though, think I’ll just close my eyes ... I love you, kiddo. You too, boy,” looking at Randy.  Take care of ...”  His eyes closed and he was asleep again.

Chad asked them to see him in his office.  “OK, guys, so far so good.  Guess you wanna know when he can come home.  That all depends on his progress here, of course, but he’ll need a lot of rehab at home and it’ll be some time before he can walk, even with a walker.  His leg will be in a cast, of course, so he’ll be spending the next few weeks in a wheelchair.

Chad smiled.  “I remember you being a very obstinate patient, Randy, and I suspect the same will go for Mike when the anesthetic really wears off – you two are like peas in a pod.

“So,” Randy grinned, “he’ll soon be good to go, eh doc?”

“I’ll be the judge of that.  I have to monitor him and make absolutely sure he’s free of infection.  I’ll keep you posted, of course.   They stood up and Larry threw his arms around Chad.  “Thank you so, so much, sir.”

Randy next pulled the doc into a muscular man-hug.  “Same goes for me, doc.  He squeezed Chad tight until he felt the bulging growing in his scrubs pants.  “And there’s more where that came from dude.  Just say when.  It’ll be my way of saying thanks.”

“You are incorrigible, Randy, thank god.  With friends like you Mike’s recovery should be fast.”

When they got back to the house they reported back to the waiting group.  Then Larry called Ben and Jason and briefed them on the story so far.  “Mike woke up briefly and asked how things were going out there, guys?”

“Everything’s hunky-dory,” Ben said, “I finished the Honda and the Triumph, gotta keep your customers happy.”

“And I did my first stint as assistant bar-tender,” Jason said. “Had a blast.  And this news about Mike will blow away that black cloud that’s been hanging over us.  Now we can really have fun.  Tonight I’m helping Curtis with the beer-bust, and get this.  His young bar-back has called in sick so Ben has volunteered.  We’ll make quite the team, eh?”

That turned out to be an understatement.

<><>    Jason & Ben Go To Work    <><>

It was true that Jason’s and Ben’s enjoyment at spending time with each other in Palm Springs had been tarnished as they, like everyone else, awaited news of Mike.  Even in Mike’s bar the mood had been somber as news spread about the boss’s accident.

But now the news that his leg had been saved, and the cautious optimism about his recovery, was something to celebrate, and they looked forward to working together in the bar this evening – Jason as the star guest bartender, Ben as the young bar-back, moving through the crowd to pick up empty bottles and glasses and returning them to the bar.

Jason called the bar’s assistant manager Curtis, gave him all the news about Mike’s operation and asked him to spread the word among the customers.  Curtis said, “Phew, that’s a relief.  So we’ll see you and Ben about seven o’clock when the beer-bust rush starts.”

It was still early afternoon so Ben said he would put in a few hours at Larry’s motorbike repair shop. “There’s a bike needs a whole lot of work and the owner’s getting impatient.”

“You have any trouble with him, you call me, kiddo.  I recall that time where a biker lout attacked you there, and Randy rescued you and beat the thug to a pulp.”

Ben laughed. “Yeah, and sent him off to ride his bike butt naked through town like Lady Godiva.”

Jason drove Ben to the workshop and stayed there with him for a while.  He loved watching the handsome young gypsy boy kneeling on the floor, frowning in concentration as he worked on one of the big bikes,.  With his sexy, swarthy features, thick eyebrows, high cheekbones and long shaggy black hair he looked like a junior version of his big brother Randy. 

Jason sat idly stroking the bulge in his jeans, and eventually said, “Kid, if I stay here any longer I’ll jump your bones and fuck that sweet ass on the greasy floor.  But you gotta work, so I’ll go back to the house.  I’ll pick you up just before seven and we’ll go straight from here to the bar.

At Mike’s sprawling ranch-style house Jason worked on the garden, getting it in trim for when Mike returned, although that probably wouldn’t be for many days yet.  Later, he went through the clothes he had brought to find something to wear to the bar. 

He preened in front of the mirror trying various outfits and decided on boots and beltless blue-jeans that were always a sexy look, tight round his lean hips.  After trying on several shirts he settled for a favorite white, slim-cut, buttoned T-shirt that hugged his body and accentuated his bulging pecs, then tapered down tight over his long, slim, sexy waist.  Anyway, he grinned to his refection, the shirt wouldn’t stay on for long.

A few minutes later he pulled up again at the workshop where Ben looked up and grinned, “Damn, you look so hot, sir.”

“You too, kid with those grease smudges on your face and arms.  I’m so fucking horny I’m this close to throwing you over that bike and ploughing your cute ass.”

“And I’m this close to creaming my jeans just looking at you, sir.  But I guess I can hold it in until after we’ve strutted our stuff in the bar.  I’m just finishing up with this bike, then I guess I should clean up a bit.”

“Don’t you dare, kiddo.  You look way sexy like that, with the oil streaks and all, those tight black jeans and grubby T-shirt.  You’ll knock ‘em dead.”

Jason was right. When they walked into the bar it was already half full and the chatter went silent for a moment as they gazed at the newcomers.  Curtis saved the moment by yelling, “Hi, Jason.  Guys, this is our guest bartender Jason and our temporary bar-back Ben, filling in for Ronnie who called in sick.   Get you ass over here, Jason, you too Ben, you’re just in time.” 

They joined him behind the bar and Curtis said, “OK, Ben, you know the drill.  The customers are a messy lot, but it’s simple ... just keep the room tidy, pick up all the bottle, cans and glasses and bring them back here.”

“Piece o’ cake, dude,” Ben grinned.

“OK both of you, lose the shirts.”  Ben pulled off his grubby T-shirt and tucked it in his back pocket, letting it hang over his bubble butt.  As he walked through the crowd the sexy, shirtless young gypsy was followed by many hungry eyes.

Then attention focused on the bar, where Jason played it to the hilt – he knew his lighting well.  He stood under a flattering spotlight, reached behind his neck and pulled his tight shirt slowly up over his ripped abs, his pecs and off over his head.  There were audible gasps as they stared at the muscular blond jock stripped to the waist.  Jason tucked the shirt in his back pocket and smiled at the first customer in line.

<><>    Jason & Ben Put On A Show    <><>

The usual noisy chatter picked up as the horny crowd got back to drinking and enjoying the sight of the muscle-god bartender and the sexy young bar-back easing his way through them, picking up beer bottles on the way.

As Curtis had predicted, Jason was a huge hit, with the cheeky young gypsy adding spice to the evening.  Customers jostled for space at the bar, impatiently waiting their turn for a quick word with the bare-chested bartender when they ordered.  The tips came thick and fast, and Jason intended to give them all to Curtis.

Busy as he was, Jason kept an eye on his boy, glancing over to make sure he was still having fun.  He knew Ben could take care of himself and was having a good time fending off the raunchy suggestions and straying hands. As the hours went by and the crowd drank more, they got bolder.

One burly biker grinned, “Hey, kid, when do you get off work?  There’s a seat on my Harley for you, boy, I’ll take you to my place.”  Ben politely declined.  “So how about you suck my dick in the back room here?  We used to have a bar-back called Eddie and he gave great blowjobs there for tips.”

“I know Eddie, sir, he’s a good buddy of mine.  But he don’t do that anymore.  He’s come up in the world.  He works in the movies now, he’s a hotshot cameraman in a big action movie.  Besides, he’s the boy of a tough macho Marine and you wouldn’t wanna tangle with him.”

“But I’d sure like to tangle with you, kid.  I got a huge dick, you’d love choking on it.”

“Maybe so, sir, but I don’t think my man would.”

“You got a man?  He don’t have to know.  Who is he, anyway?”

“You’ve been ogling him all night, sir.  The bartender over there.”

“That hunk?  No way.  You’re only saying that so I’ll leave you alone.  Hey guys, this kid here claims he’s the boy of the hot new bartender.”  His buddies laughed scornfully.  They were clearly drunk and getting aggressive.

All this was not lost on Curtis and Jason behind the bar.  Curtis said, “Hey buddy, I don’t like what’s developing over there with Ben.  Look, we’ve slowed down, they’re not buying drinks, just nursing what they got.  So if you wanna rescue your kid and cut out, that’s fine, I can manage.”

“Thanks Curtis.  I’ll see you tomorrow, then.  Here, the tips are all yours, dude.”

Jason got out from behind the bar and pushed through the crowd, which parted in deference to the macho muscle-jock.  “Hey dude,” one shouted, “give us a hand here.  We just wanna get the kid in the back room, give us all blowjobs.”  He gave a sneering grin.  “But get this ... the kid claims he’s your boy.”

Jason flashed a smile.  “Well, see, here’s the thing – he’s right.  And if anyone’s gonna take him into the back room, it’s me ... his man.  Come on kid.”  He pulled Ben close and whispered, “You ready for this, kiddo?” and Ben mumbled, “Yes please, sir.”

Jason bent low, picked the boy up, slung him over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift and carried him into the back room.  He stood under the center spotlight, lowered Ben to his feet, and pulled him into a tight hug, then clamped his mouth over Ben’s in a churning kiss.

The crowd had surged into the room and stood in the shadows, drooling over the sight of the blond muscle-stud pressing his bare chest against the sexy, shirtless young gypsy in the middle of the room.  They had already gazed longingly at the macho bartender, with his square-cut features and ripped physique, but now here he was in action.  Many cocks were pulled out and stroked as they watched a scene they had previously seen only in porn movies, not one of them as hot as this.

When Jason pulled his face away Ben slid down his body onto his knees and slowly unbuttoned the beltless jeans.  There were more gasps as Ben pulled out the long cock, closed his mouth round it and swallowed it all the way down.  Jason put both hands behind Ben’s head and flexed, like a bodybuilder’s pose with fists clenched at his waist, elbows flared, biceps bulging.

Most of the men would have paid good money to take Ben’s place and get face-fucked by the blond muscle-god.  A sheen of sweat made his torso gleam as his hips pounded back and forth against the young gypsy’s face.   When Jason pulled all the way out and growled, “You want more, boy.” and Ben panted, “Yes please, sir,” the crowd went wild as Jason drove his cock back in Ben’s mouth gabbed his head tight and pounded his face

Standing directly under the spotlight, Jason raised his arms and linked his hands behind his head in another bodybuilder pose, flexing his biceps, pecs and abs, while pumping his hips. The shouts came thick and fast ...  “Damn, the man really knows how to flaunt that gorgeous body ... “fuck him, stud ... let him have it ... choke him...  make him swallow your juice, man ...”

But Jason grinned.  “Nah, not yet ... not till I do this ...”  He pulled out and left Ben on his knees, spit running down his sagging jaw.   Jason strode over to a plain wooden table by the wall and dragged it to the center of the room.  He hooked his hands under Ben’s armpits, pulled him up and swung him on his back on the table.  He yanked his jeans off and left his bare legs hanging over the edge.

Ben’s eyes sparkled.  He was having the time of his life, showing off his man to the crowd that had laughed at the boy earlier.  Jason pushed his legs back, slapped his ass lightly and said, “Gentlemen, look at that gorgeous ass.  What d’you want me to do to it?”

Fuck it,” they chanted ... “fuck, fuck, fuck.”

Jason smiled down at Ben.  “Pretty clear what they want.  How about you kid?”

“Fuck it, sir,” Ben grinned eagerly.  And so Jason did.  He pulled his ankles high, and slid his wet cock all the way inside.  Again Jason flaunted his body in another flexing pose.  His V-shaped body – arms raised, wide lats slanting down to his slim waist – was framed in the V of Ben’s raised legs, splayed wide and slanting down to his tight ass.

As the blond jock’s rod pistoned inside the young gypsy, his flawless physique on stunning display, the orgasms in the room began.   It was a sight the spectators in the shadows would always remember, and they made the most of it.  Panting groans led to howls of ecstasy as semen splashed on the ground in an orgy of erupting cocks.

The noise reached a crescendo as Jason shouted, “You ready boy?  This is it ... I’m gonna cum ... I’m gonna cum in you ... I love you boy ... Aaaghh!”   As he drove deep one last time, his body had never looked more magnificent to Ben, muscles flexed, blue eyes shining down at him. 

As Ben gazed up at him and felt his man’s semen pumping in his ass, his own cock jerked and shot a stream of juice in the air so high it splashed on Jason’s chest.  There were gasps of disbelief, amid shouts from the last men to drain their cocks.

After a stunned pause, cheers erupted and Ben’s eyes sparkled as Jason pulled out gently.  He leaned forward, gasped Ben’s wrists, pulled him up and kissed him long and hard.  Then he faced the crowd and held Ben’s arm up high in triumph, acknowledging their cheers.  Finally, he grabbed Ben’s waist, lifted him up and flung him over his shoulder in a repeat of the fireman’s lift, his head hanging down Jason’s back. 

With one arm curled round Ben’s legs Jason raised his free hand for silence.  “Gentlemen, my boy and I thank you. Now I’m taking him home and I’m gonna make love to him all night.  But I’ll be back tomorrow to serve you ... from behind the bar next time.”

The cheering crowd parted and Jason strode to the door.  As they left Ben raised his head and grinned at the crowd.  “Now d’you believe I’m his boy?  He’s my man – and what a man!”

As they drove away Jason’s truck was filled with irrepressible laughter.  “How about that for putting on a show, eh, kiddo?”

“It was epic, sir – definitely one for the history books.  Just wait till I tell Eddie and the boys.”

And you know I meant what I said back there.  After we’ve stopped off for a bite to eat I’m gonna take you to bed and make love to you.  Now that we know Mike is out of danger we can relax, and we’re gonna have so much fun out here, kiddo. 

<><>    The Old Grizzly    <><>

The next day, the tension at the compound in L.A. had lifted and the guys resumed something of a normal routine.   Larry and Randy visited Mike several times and they could tell he was more like his old self, and cranky too. 

“How long am I gonna be stuck in this fucking hospital?  No disrespect to the doc or the nurses here.  They’ve been terrific – really make a guy feel at home.   But that’s where I wanna be – at home, or at least in your home, Randy.  Doc Chad’s a toughie – brushes off my complaints about being a prisoner and just keeps ‘monitoring’ me.  I must have had my blood pressure checked a zillion times.”

“Don’t worry, you old grizzly bear, we’ll talk to Chad when we leave you and I’ll get the truth from him, even if I have to fuck it out of him.  I have ways of making guys talk.”

In the event, their meeting in Chad’s office was genial and efficient.  “I know, I know,” Chad said, “I wouldn’t put it past Mike to drag himself out of here, cast and all.  But seriously, I do feel that his frustration at being in bed is not good for his healing.  Physically he’s made great progress and I think he should continue his recovery at your place, Randy.

“Before we discharge a patient we always ask these questions about conditions at home. Number one, will he have people to care for him?”

“Yeah, doc – Larry here, and about thirty others.” 

“Will there be any stairs?”

“No, he’ll be living with Mark and Jamie on the ground floor – and anyway I installed ramps all over the place for young Brandon and his pal Brian.”

“Will he have regular visits from a physical therapist?  I can answer that one.  Yes he will, me.  I’ll visit him night and morning myself.  But he’ll need lessons in how to maneuver a wheelchair.”

“No problemo, doc,” Larry grinned.  “We have a couple of boys who are experts.”

Chad frowned in thought.  “Right, so you can pick him up tomorrow morning, under strict conditions.  He’s an active and obstinate guy and likely to do too much too soon and risk a setback.  So you and your guys must keep a constant eye on him, exert some discipline.  And at the least sign of trouble or distress in him, call me right away.  If I’m in surgery my assistant will take the call, I’ll give you his direct number.

“Mike’s leg will be in a cast, extended horizontally in his wheelchair, and Larry, I’ll give you instructions on how to keep it clean and watch for signs of infection.  Any questions?”

Randy and Larry exchanged looks and shook their heads.  Randy grinned, “I’m sure we will have, Chad, but you don’t know the relief we feel at your constant care of our friend.”

After elaborate hugs and thanks they left the hospital, and when they got home they, Bob and the others made plans for Mike’s return.

<><>    Uncle Mike Is Trained By The Boys    <><>

By next morning everything was in place and a small group had gathered.  Bob had sensibly insisted there not be a huge gathering.  It was important to ease Mike’s return, with minimum fuss or distractions. 

There would be a full dinner that evening which even the Grady House group would attend – Mario, Grady, Danny and his lover Tommy. Their boy Brian was already here, helping his boyfriend Brandon and the others make the house ready.

Felipe, whom Bob had relieved of his kitchen duties and assigned to Mike and Larry’s exclusive care, had helped his friend Jamie shift the furniture around in the ground-floor apartment they would occupy, making it wheelchair accessible.

At last they heard Randy’s truck pull up and they waited while Bob helped with the delicate maneuver of shifting Mike out of the truck and into his wheelchair.  Finally he made his appearance, with Larry pushing his wheelchair, Mike’s leg in a cast fully extended on the leg rest.  He acknowledged the applause and cheers with a big smile and a wave and was wheeled directly into the apartment.

But he didn’t stay there long.  “I gotta get the hang of this fucking chair if I’m gonna be stuck in it for weeks.”  Larry pushed him out to the lawn where Brandon and Brian had anticipated his impulse, recalling their own strenuous efforts to become wheelchair proficient.  Larry let go of the chair and Mike made his first clumsy effort to propel it.

Brandon and Brian watched, and Brandon said out loud.  What d’ya think dude?”

“Ah, amateurs,” Brian said.  “Doing it all wrong.  He’ll never get the hang of it.”

Mike looked up and grinned, “Fuck you, kids.  Easy for you to say.  This is my first time in one of these contraptions.”

“Can I show you something, Uncle Mike?” Brian said.  “Look at my hands, way down low on the back of the wheel. Then you push up and over to get the longest maximum thrust.  Try that, sir.”

Mike stumbled at first, but on the second attempt grinned, “Hey, I see what you mean.  It works.  Thanks, kiddo.”  He wheeled himself a few yards but then one wheel got stuck in a shallow rut in the lawn.  “Dammit,” he snarled, pushing fiercely on the wheel to no effect.

“No, no, no, sir,” Brandon said, rolling up to him.  “You’ll never free yourself like that.  The trick here is to roll back a bit, out of the rut, then turn the chair by pushing one wheel.  Now when you go forward you’ll miss the rut.”

It worked, of course and Mike laughed.  “Hey, you guys are good.  Can you stick around for a while and give me lessons?”

“Of course, sir.  You’ve got a lot to learn.”

Bob and Randy were upstairs in their house when they were distracted by loud laughter coming from the garden.  They went to the large window that had a full view of the lawn below and they smiled at the wheelchair battle going on below.

“No, Uncle Mike, we told you already, that way you use more effort for less traction.  This is how it goes.  He’ll never get it right, Brian.  Too impulsive, he won’t listen.”

“You’re right, dude, a raw rookie.  Pretty much a lost cause, I’d say.”

“Fuck you both,” Mike said, raising his middle finger, which made the boys roar with laughter, and Mike joined in.”

Upstairs Bob put his arm over Randy’s shoulder.  “Look at that, Randy. The oldest man in the tribe getting lessons from two of the youngest.  Does your heart good to see it, eh?”

By now the boys were doing wheelies, spinning around and laughing.  When they stopped Brandon said, “Don’t try this at home, sir.  Too dangerous for a novice.”

“Showoffs,” Mike said, giving them the finger with both hands, provoking more gales of laughter, tears running down the boys’ cheeks.

Randy looked at Bob who also had tears on his cheeks, caused not by laughter but by love for the boys in wheelchairs and the new rookie, their Uncle Mike. 

Randy kissed his cheek.  “You old softy, but I know how you feel.  Terrific ain’t they?  Maybe taking care of Uncle Mike ain’t gonna be so hard after all.  Who knew that an older guy in a wheelchair could bring a breath of fresh air to the tribe, and so much laughter?  This is gonna be fun.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

 TO BE CONTINUED in “A Trial Of Strength – Book 13: Chapter 8